Community Corner

Lake Walkathon Saturday to Prevent Texting While Driving

Distracted driving can be deadly. On Saturday, Mission Viejo teens will rally to end texting while driving.

Participating teens will meet at the Vista Del Lago commercial plaza for the Text After Driving Walkathon to be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The walk is about three miles long.

Students are being asked to sponsor themselves with a $25 donation to go to the nonprofit group ETC Helps, which provides communication training for disadvantaged kids.

In 2010, distracted driving accidents killed 3,092 people and injury 416,000 more, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"I don't think texting is a bad thing. I think it has its place," ETC President Lori Kelman said. "But too many teens are using texting as the primary mode of their communication."

She described the event as an effort to "move kids away from texting and back to face-to-face interaction."

What do you think when you see someone texting while driving? Tell us in the comments below.


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